Double Identity [Library Binding]

Margaret Peterson Haddix (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 9, 2008

So my only protection is a kindergarten teacher and a ninety-eight-pound female minister....And they don't even believe I'm in danger.

As Bethany approaches her thirteenth birthday, her parents begin acting more oddly than usual: Her mother cries constantly, and her father barely lets Bethany out of his sight. Then one morning he hustles the entire family into the car, drives across several state lines -- and leaves Bethany with an aunt she never knew existed. Bethany has no idea what's going on. She's worried that her mom and dad are running from some kind of trouble, but she can't find out because they won't tell her where they are going.

Bethany's only clue is a few words she overheard her father tell her aunt Myrlie: "She doesn't know anything about Elizabeth." But Aunt Myrlie won't tell Bethany who Elizabeth is, and she won't explain why people in her small town react to Bethany as if they've seen a ghost. The mystery intensifies when Bethany gets a package from her father containing four different birth certificates from four states, with four different last names -- and thousands of dollars in cash. And when a strange man shows up asking questions, Bethany realizes she's not the only one who's desperate to unravel the secrets of her past.

In this exhilarating thriller, Margaret Peterson Haddix crafts a taut story so full of twists and turns, readers will be gripped until the startling conclusion.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–One October evening, Bethany's parents drive her to another state to stay with an aunt she never knew existed. Left confused and without a way to contact her parents, the 12-year-old tries to figure out the reason behind their strange behavior and learns some family secrets in the process. It turns out that she is the clone of her sister, who was killed years earlier in a tragic automobile accident, and she is being hunted by a man who wants to expose her secret existence for his own benefit. Although there is not much action, the twists and turns of the suspense-filled plot are more than enough to keep readers interested. When one question is answered, another one is raised. Readers will relate to Bethany's feelings of abandonment, as well as her struggle to set herself apart from the sister she never knew but with whom she shares so much. This quick, engaging read is a good choice for reluctant readers.–Michele Capozzella, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. The author of Escape from Memory (2003) and the Shadow Children series has penned another suspenseful sf novel guaranteed to keep readers riveted. After her mother suffers a nervous breakdown, 12-year-old Bethany Cole is deposited with Myrlie Wilker, an aunt of whom she has never heard. Myrlie and several other residents of Sanderfield, Illinois, do a double take when they see Bethany--for she reminds them of Elizabeth, Bethany's heretofore-unknown older sister, who died some 20 years earlier. In carefully crafted, gripping prose, Haddix slowly reveals the family secrets that have been kept from Bethany all these years: her sister's death, her parent's desperate grief, and the deal they made with a wealthy businessman. The ending is a little too neat, but Haddix's fans aren't likely to notice; secondary themes concerning cloning ethics and personal identity are also nicely handled, which makes this a good companion to Nancy Werlin's Double Helix (2004). Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Library Binding: 218 pages
• Publisher: Paw Prints 2008-05-09 (May 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 143526715X
• ISBN-13: 978-1435267152
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)

More About the Author

I grew up on a farm outside Washington Court House, Ohio. As a kid, I liked to read a lot, and was also involved in 4-H, various bands and choirs (I played flute and piano), church youth group, the school newspaper, and a quiz-bowl type team. I was pretty disastrous as an athlete, although I did run track one year in high school. After graduating from Miami University (of Ohio), I worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a part-time community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois, before my first book was published. I've moved around a lot as an adult, having also lived in Luxembourg (during a college semester abroad) and in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. Several years ago, I moved back to Ohio with my husband and kids; we now live in Columbus, Ohio. My husband trains investigative journalists, and my kids are in high school, so there's always a lot going on around our house.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a breathtaking story! A must read!, May 22, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Double Identity (Hardcover)

I have to say, this is one of the best Margaret Peterson Haddix books I have ever read. Bethany is an average, girl, that is, until both her parents seem to go under some sort of manic depression. This is serious, not at all a funny situation. Bethany's parents have always acted slightly odd around her, seeming to be able to predict things, such as when she needs glasses. Also, always being overprotective over her safety, as when Bethany rides her bike without a helmet. Her dad shouts, screams, and yells at her, saying she could have been killed. Bethany never thought of it as odd, until her parents leave her alone with an aunt and cousin she's never known. Bethany's parents are crying, and leave no explanation as to why she is being sent to a different part of the country. The mystery deepens even more and the plot twisted and knotted until it may be too much for you to bear. However, a very surprising ending will have you smiling as you read the last lines of this great novel.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fast Paced-Thrilling Adventure, July 20, 2006

By 

Elenchus (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Double Identity (Hardcover)

Enter Bethany Cole, a seemingly avarage teen girl. Her peaceful, quiet lifestyle is quickly demolished when her parents whisk her away from her home, and to her aunt's house. An Aunt she never knew existed.

As Bethany is dropped off with no way to contact her parents about the strange situation, Bethany must wait. Soon, a strange trip turns into a fast paced and exciting mystery, as Bethany hurries to discover the intention behind her parent's behavior. She is left with no clues other than her father saying, 'getting help for her (bethany's) mother.) and the name of young woman whom Bethany does not know.

The plot thickens when Bethany is sent a mysterious package by her parents, containing four bith certificates.
Bethany then proceeds to, slowly, discover the remaining facts, and, with the help of her Aunt, discovers that the mystery woman is none other than, her sister! Once again, another mystery unfolds. Why did she never hear of her sister? Who are their parents hiding from? And when her mother begins speaking strangely, believing Bethany is her sister, the final plot twist begins to unfold.
The answers to these questions and more can only be found in Margaret Peterson Haddix's thrilling story of Double Identity.

Haddix weaves a brilliant tale in this book. The characters each have well thought out, realistic personalities: No stereotypes or paper-thin characters here. The characters are all deep, and never are out of character. The final twist at the ending (which I will not reveal.) was brilliant, and I was certainly not expecting it. As you read this book, you too will find yourself trying to piece together the mystery, just as Bethany Cole tries. The ending was fitting, and not rushed. Very satisfactory.

The story is incrediblle, as the mystery is finally solved in the end. Fortunately, the story is not open ended, but leaves you the room to wonder how the lives of Bethnay Cole and her family proceed into the future. Which reminds me, the story is set in the near future, around 2011/12 Shocking and surprising, the final twist was...it was wonderful! And, then, you begin to realize why the book was titled the way it was.

The book is in the first person view, which truly brings out the full impact of this book.

Well, that's all I'll reveal. This is a wonderful book for anyone about Grade 5 and up. (Around 11 years old plus) Trust me, anyone looking for a great mystery story will find relief in this awesome book. So, basically, read this book!!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling As It Is!, March 6, 2006

By 

Sandra Sok "SandraSok" (Cerritos, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Double Identity (Hardcover)

<u>Double Identity</u>
By: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Reviewed by: S. Sok
Period 1

Bethany is now a thirteen year old, and her mother and father begin to act more strangely than usual. She sees her mom cry constantly, and her father never lets Bethany out of his sight. Then one day, her parents cross seven states by car and end up at Bethany's aunt's house, of whom she never even heard of her entire life. Bethany is left with her so-called Aunt Myrlie and her parents leave her at Myrlie's house for safety and ends Bethany on a string. Bethany believes that her parents are running away from trouble, but who knows? All she hears from eavesdropping is, "She doesn't know anything about Elizabeth." Bethany's life gets odder and odder: the people in the town react to Bethany as if they had seen ghost, she receives a package from her father containing four different birth certificates and last names and thousands of dollars in cash, and a strange and scary man appears up at Aunt Myrlies's house and asks confidential family questions,. Then, Bethany slowly uncovers the secret and finds out that she is a clone of her sister Elizabeth, who died years ago, <u>Double Identity</u> is truly a thriller.
I liked <u>Double Identity</u> because it was very mysterious. However, I come to love mystery books, one of my favorite genres. As it is said in the book, "But Aunt Myrlie won't explain who Elizabeth is, and she won't explain why people in her small town react to Bethany as if they've seen a ghost. This sentence left me off the hook and made me want to read on, also, it was really intensifying when Bethany received four different birth certificates from four different states with four different last names. However, there was not only mystery in this book, but it contained much self perseverance.
There was a lot of self perseverance in the book. Out of the characters, Bethany had the most self perseverance because she kept her head high, even though it was though being in a town with relatives she never even heard of before. It says, "Oh Elizabeth," Joss says, "it's so nice having you back! I've missed"- she gets a stricken look on her face-"you" she finishes lamely. Even though Bethany didn't want to be and look like Elizabeth, she tried her hardest to keep up with it.
My favorite part of <u>Double Identity</u> is when Bethany sums up everything; she is able to answer all of the mysterious questions she had been having. It gave my insides a great, enormous, banana smile because I could feel Bethany's happiness. I also like it when Bethany answers her questions since she had put up with and through a lot of tragedies. It really makes you feel "proud" of her. <u>Double Identity</u> is an awesome and thrilling book!